When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, its a good core workout. If youre sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More

In the past 30 years, light artists have reimagined an art form that has always had the ability to turn the night sky, or a simple window, into luminescence. Last fall, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts turned its southern glass wall into a parade of sound-sensing lights, Lightswarm, that changes with the movements of nearby people and things. Future Cities Lab, the San Francisco design company behind Lightswarm, has originated another notable light sculpture. Located by the YBCA's steps at 701 Mission, Murmur Wall will light up in arresting ways as it incorporates local trending search engine results and social media postings. Onlookers can offer their own contributions, which will feed into the Murmur Wall's data stream and light up the sculpture. What's trending in San Francisco? If you're walking by the YBCA, you can see firsthand — at least through light patterns that reflect the city's volatile internet habits.
Murmur Wall debuts Thursday at 6 p.m. and continues through May 31, 2017, at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St., S.F. Free; 415-978-2700 or ybca.org. More

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Pickup basketball is a weird social phenomenon where a bunch of strangers meet at a designated spot during a designated time to engage in an athletic competition governed by de facto rules established in some mythic rulebook.

And the dog lover has decided that puppies will do the trick. Starting Aug. 1, Dufty is going to start giving panhandlers exactly what they want: money. He'll be handing out $75 stipends to panhandlers as well as cute puppies in need of loving home.

Dufty is convinced that this plan -- called Wonderful Opportunities for Occupants and Fidos (WOOF) -- will help both puppy, who needs a home, and panhandler, who needs money.

And no, animals hoarders, mentally ill residents, and homeless people will not qualify, Dufty tells the Chron.

So here's how this one-of-a-kind union will work:

Animal Care and Control will screen all the applicants to make sure they are living in supportive housing and not on
the streets. They also must prove they do not have a violent past and are seeking treatment for any substance abuse problems.

More importantly, they must pledge to not to use the puppy to panhandle. If they are busted panhandling, their new friend will go right back to the shelter.

If they can do all of this, then each panhandler will get as much as $75 a week, as well as several training
sessions and all the dog
food, toys, leashes, and vet visits they need.

And in case you are wondering, a $10,000 grant from Vanessa Getty will be financing the program for now. Dufty says he'll seek more philanthropic donations along the way.

"I'm tired of pushing people around. You can make it difficult for
people to panhandle, but ultimately they're just going to go do it
somewhere else," Dufty told the Chron. "Why not try to meet their needs for income in
a way that helps the city and its animals?"

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Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"